Alicia Bagley

After producing, emceeing and accompanying 583 weekly musical theatre talent showcases at renowned midtown cabaret venue Don't Tell Mama since 2007 featuring over 3,000 performers, award-winning off-Broadway composer/lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh is excited to bring his cabarets to the internet! 

Winner of four 2000 Tony Awards, Elton John & Sir Tim Rice (Official)'s AIDA is an epic tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal, chronicling a love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love.

You're a guest at the riotous wedding of Rebecca Steinberg and Brian Howard in Smithtown Center For The Performing Arts' fantastic musical production 'It Shoulda Been You.' Family squabble, friendly foolery, and shocking surprises are all present in this delightful show that revolves around a young couple on their wedding day. This Long Island premiere has a book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove with music by Barbara Anselmi. Michael Cooper, Will Randall, Carla Rose Fisher, Ernie Lijo, and Jill Abramovitz also contributed to the lyrics.

Memphis The Musical plays two more shows, tomorrow and Saturday, February 3 and 4, at the The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center of Oakdale, Long Island. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Long Island theatre community can seriously do no wrong when it comes to presenting multi Tony award winner Memphis, The Musical. Per usual when I see a production at The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center, I am truly inspired by the talent of the cast and creative team. This wonderful incarnation, directed excellently by Artistic Director Patrick Grossman, runs at the Oakdale venue through February 4th kicking off their 30th anniversary. The cast, the passion, the creative team... everything is top-notch.

Norm Lewis finished his Feinstein's/54Below 5 night run last night, on Christmas Eve. Norm's show, NORM LEWIS WISHES YOU A SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS, played to packed houses and the venue had an amazing week, with Michael Feinstein also making his debut at the newly namesaked club, doing the 7:00 P.M. shows and Norm conquering the 9:30 slot. By the way, Mr. Feinstein plays through the 30th, while Norm enjoys his Christmas Holiday and then can find him at the Smith Center in Las Vegas, on New Year's Eve with friends Patina Miller, Capathia Jenkins, Eric Bergen and Clint Holmes.

When Green Day's American Idiot arrived on Broadway in 2010, it received a mixed response. When I saw the OBC, I thought they were absolutely stunning and found the book, like everyone else, safe. Furthermore, you have the hard rocking score that is Green Day's Grammy winning album that the musical is derived from. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience seeing it on the Great White Way and I am delighted Hauppauge's SoLuna Studio has added it to their summer season.

As a “renthead”, I am thrilled to see Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical Tick, Tick… BOOM! part of SoLuna Studio's 2015 season. The cast at the charming Long Island venue is super talented and does the show justice in a forum in which it should be presented; an intimate theatre.

I'm always cautious in seeing a regional production of Jonathan Larsen's Rent as I have become a Renthead over the years. The thing to remember is art has different interpretations. SoLuna Studio Artistic Director and Owner Karen Braun fantastically directs and choreographs this slightly reimagined take on Mr. Larson's Tony and Pulitzer winning musical. Running through July 27th, some adjustments were made for SoLuna's vision including an unexpected twist the last moment of the show.

To see an all-out fun production like Xanadu is certainly a pleasure. The musical, currently running at Hauppauge's SoLuna Studio, is entertaining and the talented cast delivers in all its campy glory. The story, a spoof of the atrocious 1980's movie, follows Kira who sets out to inspire a struggling artist in order to achieve his utmost creative desire... a roller disco!

Hair - The American Tribal Love Rock Musical became one of my favorite shows when I saw the Tony winning revival in 2009 and then again in 2010. With that, one may have an unconscious hesitation when a local production of your favorite show is being mounted. No one should have that attitude and let me tell you, the cast at Soluna Studio in Hauppauge surely did not disappoint.